Anna Camp, known for playing Jill Mason in the 2008 Broadway revival of Equus, recently shared her story. She opened up about the difficulty of filming her first nude scene with co-star Daniel Radcliffe. The production was a bold, visually stunning, and harrowing reimagining of Peter Shaffer’s 1973 play. Camping as the repressed, free-spirited daughter of a stable owner, and primarily having a scorching hot sexual encounter with Radcliffe’s character, Alan Strang.
The production culminated in a mesmerizing finale, where both actors went completely bare. This historic moment was as intimidating for them on stage as it was in front of the audience. Camp remembered the scene all too well. As Radcliffe read his monologue, she could hear hostile jeers from the audience. “Like I remember I had to get still while he was talking, and they were discussing our bodies,” she explained.
The one specific comment that haunted her was the one from a man in the audience who joked, “She must be frigid. Camp opened on the ENGO comments with rich, self-deprecating humor. So, he has to be, too! We’re all cold! Just leave us alone, go away! We’re naked for you right now!
The reality of that experience forced Camp to face her greatest fear. She described the nude scene as “an honest challenge to my fear.” She shared about the personal struggle to be vulnerable while finding a place of grace on stage. “Like, what can I actually do when I’m afraid? And how can I say none of these people’s opinions matter to me?” she reflected.
Radcliffe, who was just 17 while starring in the original production, confided that he was terrified to do Equus. He described his feelings as being “s
